The Health Officer's Ultimatum
Dr. Palmer declares he will no longer pick up the slack for the city's refusal to fund indigent medical care.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Health Officer Palmer is considerably annoyed at the condition of affairs in regard to the care of the sick and objects to being criticised as to the length of time it takes him to reach the police station after some injured person has been taken there. The facts of the case are that according to the stand now taken by the city authorities the health officer is not required to attend any cases except city prisoners and smallpox. In speaking of the matter yesterday, he said: 'In regard to the duty of the city as to the care of indigent sick persons, it should be remembered that two months ago, when the council abolished the office of assistant health officer, the corporation counsel gave it as his opinion that the laws of the state are positive in making it the duty of the county commissioners to care for all indigent sick persons. Acting in accordance with this opinion, the board of public works decided to authorize no longer the incurring of any expense for the care of the indigent sick. The county officials were notified of the city's policy over two months ago, but as they have made no provision for care of such cases, I have taken care of them to the best of my ability. In my opinion the county commissioners are solely to blame for this disgraceful state of affairs.'
“In my opinion the county commissioners are solely to blame for this disgraceful state of affairs.”
This inter-agency finger-pointing over who is responsible for the health of the city's most vulnerable residents echoes modern debates between King County and Seattle regarding homelessness and social services funding. Over a century later, the question of whether the burden falls on municipal or regional government remains a primary friction point in local politics.
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